# US 10,499,998 B2 · Microwave ablation system with user-controlled ablation size and method of use

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,499,998 B2
- Document ID: US10499998B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/159,011
- Filed: 2018-10-12
- Published: 2019-02-14
- Granted: 2019-12-10
- Earliest claimed: 2009-04-01
- Assignees: Covidien LP
- Applicants: Covidien LP
- Inventors: Joseph D. Brannan; Kyle R. Rick
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10499998B2

## CPC

- A61B 34/25: {User interfaces for surgical systems}
- A61B 18/18: by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves
- A61B 18/1815: {using microwaves}
- A61B 34/10: Computer-aided planning, simulation or modelling of surgical operations
- G06F 3/04815: Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional [3D], e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
- G06F 3/04842: Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements (G06F3/0482 takes precedence)
- G06F 3/04845: for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
- G06F 16/51: Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
- G06T 13/20: Three-dimensional [3D] animation
- G06T 15/00: Three-dimensional [3D] image rendering
- G06T 19/003: {Navigation within 3D models or images}
- A61B 90/90: Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags
- A61B 2034/101: {Computer-aided simulation of surgical operations}
- A61B 2034/104: {Modelling the effect of the tool, e.g. the effect of an implanted prosthesis or for predicting the effect of ablation or burring}
- A61B 2034/105: {Modelling of the patient, e.g. for ligaments or bones}
- A61B 2034/107: {Visualisation of planned trajectories or target regions}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL

## Abstract

Disclosed is a system and method for enabling user preview and control of the size and shape of an electromagnetic energy field used in a surgical procedure. The disclosed system includes a selectively activatable source of microwave surgical energy in the range of about 900 mHz to about 5 gHz in operable communication with a graphical user interface and a database. The database is populated with data corresponding to the various surgical probes, such as microwave ablation antenna probes, that may include a probe identifier, the probe diameter, operational frequency of the probe, ablation length of the probe, ablation diameter of the probe, a temporal coefficient, a shape metric, and the like. The probe data is graphically presented on the graphical user interface where the surgeon may interactively view and select an appropriate surgical probe. Three-dimensional views of the probe(s) may be presented allowing the surgeon to interactively rotate the displayed image.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An ablation generator comprising:
a generator module configured to couple to at least one of a plurality of ablation probes, the generator module configured to generate ablative energy;
a display configured to display a user interface, the user interface configured to receive a user-selectable ablation shape and at least one probe parameter; and
a processor configured to:
select at least one of the plurality of ablation probes suitable for forming an ablation volume corresponding to the user-selectable ablation shape based on the at least one probe parameter; and
signal the display to preview at least one selected ablation probe.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The generator according to claim 1, further comprising:
a storage device coupled to the processor and configured to store a database of a plurality of probe parameters.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The generator according to claim 2, further comprising:
a data interface coupled to the storage device, the data interface configured to couple to an external device storing an updated plurality of probe parameters.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The generator according to claim 3, wherein the data interface is further configured to synchronize the database with the updated plurality of probe parameters.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The generator according to claim 1, wherein the at least one probe parameter is selected from the group consisting of a probe diameter, a frequency, an ablation dimension, and a temporal coefficient.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The generator according to claim 2, wherein the user interface includes a rotation user interface element configured to rotate the user-selectable ablation shape.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The generator according to claim 1, wherein the user interface includes a temporal user interface element configured to display an animated depiction of the user-selectable ablation shape.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The generator according to claim 7, wherein the temporal user interface element includes a user-adjustable slider corresponding to a time scale of the animated depiction.

### Claim 9

A method for planning an ablation procedure, the method comprising:
displaying a user interface configured to receive a user-selectable ablation shape and at least one probe parameter;
selecting at least one of a plurality of ablation probes suitable for forming an ablation volume corresponding to the user-selectable ablation shape based on the at least one probe parameter; and
displaying a preview of the at least one selected ablation probe.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method according to claim 9, further comprising:
storing a database of a plurality of probe parameters in a storage device.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method according to claim 10, further comprising:
coupling an external device storing an updated plurality of probe parameters to a data interface coupled to the storage device.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method according to claim 11, wherein coupling the external device further includes automatically synchronizing the database with the updated plurality of probe parameters.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The method according to claim 9, wherein the at least on probe parameter is selected from the group consisting of a probe diameter, a frequency, an ablation dimension, and a temporal coefficient.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The method according to claim 9, wherein displaying the user interface further includes displaying a rotation user interface element configured to rotate the user-selectable ablation shape.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The method according to claim 9, wherein displaying the user interface further includes displaying a temporal user interface element configured to display an animated depiction of the user-selectable ablation shape.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method according to claim 15, wherein displaying the temporal user interface element further includes displaying a user-adjustable slider corresponding to a time scale of the animated depiction.